Patents Examined by Maxwell L Meshaka
  • Patent number: 11608126
    Abstract: A support system for a vehicle includes a base and at least a first and a second support arm. Each of the first and the second support arms include a base end pivotally coupled to the base through a respective hinge assembly. Each of the first and the second support arms further include a distal end opposite the base end. The support system also includes a respective wheel assembly coupled to each distal end. Each wheel assembly includes an independently powered and steerable wheel configured to engage a travel surface, a propelling motor configured to drive a respective first support arm between a stowed condition and a deployed condition unaided while the vehicle remains stationary, and a steer actuator configured to change an angle of the wheel with respect to a respective support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: XTREME MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan Paul Sobotka, Jacob Wayne Adkins
  • Patent number: 11603897
    Abstract: A bushing includes a cylindrical body and a flange extending from the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body has an inner face defining a bore. The flange includes an outer rim and a face extending radially between the bore and the outer rim. At least one groove is formed in the face. The at least one groove extends from a first end intersecting the bore to a second end adjacent the outer rim such that grease supplied to the bore of the bushing is able to flow through the at least one groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: K.M. Gehman Incorporated
    Inventor: K. Marlin Gehman
  • Patent number: 11603133
    Abstract: Provided is a steering apparatus 1 including: a wheel 2; and a steering unit 5 configured to steer the wheel 2, the steering apparatus 1 being fixable to a vehicle body, wherein the steering unit 5 includes: a steering drive source (an electric motor incorporated in an electric motor unit 61) configured to steer the wheel 2 with a steering rotation axis 63a as an axis, the steering rotation axis 63a being a rotation axis when the wheel 2 is steered; and a manual toe angle adjustment mechanism 7 different from the steering drive source, the manual toe angle adjustment mechanism 7 enabling a toe angle of the wheel 2 to be manually adjusted around the steering rotation axis 63a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Itoh, Yoshinori Masubuchi, Yutaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11591008
    Abstract: According to the present embodiments, it is easy to be drawn in or out balls between the sliding bar and the ball nut. Thus, it is possible to easily replace the balls. Therefore, it is possible to easily compensate for the gap between the sliding bar and the ball nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Woong Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 11584336
    Abstract: A seat belt accessory comprising a first and second fastener connected by a connecting member. The fasteners may be of various shapes, sizes, designs, and dimensions. The seat belt assembly can be used to improve the comfort of a passenger riding in a vehicle or any other apparatus requiring seat belt restraints by creating more space between the seat belt and the passenger and eliminating any pinching created by the seat belt. In addition to creating a more comfortable passenger experience, the seat belt accessory allows easier seat belt access to passengers with mobility problems, serves as a reminder for passengers to use their seat belt, and instantly protect passengers upon crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Richard H. Galloway
  • Patent number: 11584425
    Abstract: A steering device includes an inner column, an outer column, a hanger bracket, and a fixing member. The hanger bracket has a guide hole which extends in the front-rear direction and through which the shaft portion of the fixing member passes. An edge portion of the guide hole of the hanger bracket is provided with a fixing portion and a gradually increasing resistance portion. The seat portion of the fixing member comes into contact with the fixing portion to fix the hanger bracket to the inner column. The gradually increasing resistance portion is disposed in front of the fixing portion and gradually increases frictional resistance between the fixing member and the hanger bracket according to forward displacement of the fixing member when the fixing member is displaced forward together with inner column by a secondary collision load being input to the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiroishi
  • Patent number: 11577783
    Abstract: An independently driving wheel module includes: a base frame including an upper end fixed to a coupling surface of a vehicle body, and a rotation part coupled to the upper end of the base frame such that the rotation part is rotatable with respect to the upper end of the base frame; a connection link including a first end integrally coupled to the rotation part, and a second end having a shape extending downward from the first end of the connection link; a driving wheel disposed at a side of the second end of the connection link and coupled to the second end of the connection link; and a rotation plate including an upper and lower surfaces extending obliquely in misaligned directions, the rotation plate being interposed between the base frame and the vehicle body so as to be rotatable with respect to the base frame or the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tae Heon Lee, Won Hyok Choi
  • Patent number: 11577778
    Abstract: A coupling structure of suspension may include an assist knuckle, a RevoKnuckle rotatably engaged with the assist knuckle, rotated independently from the assist knuckle, and performing steering of a wheel located at an outermost periphery, a steering input portion fixed to a vehicle body and applying a steering force to the RevoKnuckle during steering, a rotation transfer unit located between and coupled between the RevoKnuckle and the steering input portion and absorbing angular displacement formed between the steering input portion and the RevoKnuckle, a first link unit having one end located on one side surface of the assist knuckle and the other end located at a lower end of the RevoKnuckle, and a second link unit having one end located on the other side surface of the assist knuckle and the other end located adjacent to the other end of the first link unit at the lower end of the RevoKnuckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Young Kim, Jae Won Lee, Ha Kyung Moon
  • Patent number: 11577685
    Abstract: An adaptive load-limiting seatbelt assembly for a passenger vehicle includes a rotatable spool drum storing a length of seatbelt fabric and a piezoelectric device including a controller that can dynamically control torque applied to the spool drum resisting pay-out of the seatbelt from the spool drum during a dynamic event such as a vehicle crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: Jean Alain van Poppel
  • Patent number: 11565752
    Abstract: Electromechanical apparatuses for controlling vehicle suspension settings. Described herein are electromechanical apparatuses for controlling wheel alignment (e.g., camber, castor and/or toe). In particular, described herein are camber adjusting apparatuses for electromechanically adjusting camber or camber and toe that may be retrofitted onto existing vehicle suspensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Doftek Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Geoffrey William Rogers
  • Patent number: 11554627
    Abstract: A vehicle height control system and method of increasing a vehicle height of a vehicle having a vehicle body and at least one axle assembly. The vehicle height control system includes a pressurized fluid, and a plurality of air springs provided to support at least one section of the body of the vehicle above at least one axle of the vehicle and configured to adjust the height the vehicle relative to the ground in response to the supply and discharge of the fluid. A control assembly of the vehicle height control system configured to receive user input indicative of a vehicle height adjustment operation desired by a user has a piston unit fluidically interconnected with the pressurized fluid supply system via a first control valve and is operable to adjust the vehicle height by adjusting a second control valve interposed between the pressurized fluid supply system and the air springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Stephen Ray Lynn
  • Patent number: 11554818
    Abstract: A self-stabilizing vehicle includes a mass gyroscope which is fixed at an occupant compartment chassis corresponding to a portion where occupants sit. The occupant compartment portion may tilt outwards in response to the centrifugal force. If the vehicle has three or more wheels, the load is evenly distributed on the left wheel and the right wheel which move oppositely up and down about an effectively centrally-mounted shaft pin. Further, the present disclosure proposes a method for operating the self-stabilizing vehicle. According to the self-stabilizing vehicle and the operating method thereof, a vehicle having a narrow body may be used. When the vehicle undergoes external forces such as the centrifugal force and the crosswind, the occupant compartment can maintain the vertical stability even though the wheels may slide sideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN DAHON TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: David Tak Wei Hon
  • Patent number: 11548341
    Abstract: A strut mount includes an inner member, an outer member, and a body rubber. A stopper rubber which protrudes outward in an axial direction is disposed on the body rubber. The outer member includes a supporting portion which covers the stopper rubber from outside thereof in the axial direction. The stopper rubber includes a pedestal protrusion portion which protrudes outward in the axial direction from the inner member and a tip protrusion portion which protrudes outward in the axial direction from the pedestal protrusion portion, contacts the supporting portion, and has an elasticity in the axial direction lower than that of the pedestal protrusion portion. The pedestal protrusion portion and the tip protrusion portion taper outward in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Prospira Corporation
    Inventors: Kazutaka Otsu, Musashi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11548336
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system for a vehicle having a body supported on a frame includes a first suspension component having a surface and a bracket cantilevered from the surface, a second suspension component including a surface portion, and a spring element mounted to one of the bracket and the surface portion of the second suspension component. Interaction between the spring element and the another of the bracket and the surface portion of the second suspension component limits upward travel of the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Jeffery L. Vogt
  • Patent number: 11541831
    Abstract: A link mechanism is provided between a first member and a second member to effect a bending/stretching motion in operative association with a telescopic expanding/contracting motion of the first member and the second member. A supporting mechanism is provided to support, to the link mechanism, a wire having flexibility and connected between a first device on the side of the first member and a second device on the side of the second member. The supporting mechanism fixes the wire to each link member of the link mechanism in position so that the wire is deformed while maintaining its state following a shape of the link mechanism in operative association with the bending/stretching motion of the link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Togo, Jinto No
  • Patent number: 11541714
    Abstract: A vehicle disclosed herein may include: a vehicle body including a front compartment; a drive disposed in the front compartment and configured to drive a wheel; a plurality of brackets attaching the drive to the vehicle body; a stabilizer extending in a right-left direction of the vehicle in the front compartment and connecting a left front suspension and a right front suspension to each other; and a plurality of bushes attaching the stabilizer to the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of bushes may include a first bush located frontward of the drive, the plurality of brackets may include a first bracket located rearward of the first bush, and at least a part of the first bracket may be located above the first bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Nagayama, Shigenori Hashida, Masaki Yoshida, Masataka Tsukumo, Hideaki Yoshiba
  • Patent number: 11535079
    Abstract: Torsion beam axles for vehicles are disclosed. An example torsion beam axle disclosed herein includes a first side assembly, the first side assembly including a longitudinal member and a receiver. The example torsion beam axle further including a second side assembly, and a cross strut extending transversely between the first side assembly and the second side assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Francesco Italiano, Carsten Tragsdorf
  • Patent number: 11529834
    Abstract: A vehicle including a frame; a motor; at least one ground engaging member; at least one suspension member pivotally connecting the ground engaging member to the frame; at least one double bonded bushing being disposed in an end portion of the at least one suspension member; at least one wear plate disposed between a first end of the at least one double bonded bushing and the frame, the at least one wear plate being rotationally fixed relative to the frame, the first end of the at least one double bonded bushing abutting the at least one wear plate, the at least one wear plate being selectively removable from the vehicle; and at least one shaft extending through a portion of the frame, the at least one double bonded bushing, and the at least one wear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Eric Theobald, Jean-Pierre Bourgeois, Michel Boisclair
  • Patent number: 11518430
    Abstract: A wheel steering device for a vehicle, including: a steering knuckle that constitutes a part of a suspension device and that is capable of moving relative to a body of the vehicle in an up-down direction, the steering knuckle holding a wheel such that the wheel is rotatable; and a steering actuator configured to cause the steering knuckle to be pivoted about a kingpin axis so steer the wheel, wherein a caster angle and a caster offset are both 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Sano
  • Patent number: 11511821
    Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a base member, an upper arm, a lower arm, a first support member, a second support member, a first wheel, a second wheel, and a steering operation member. The upper arm, the lower arm, the first support member, the second support member constitute a parallel link mechanism. The first wheel is movable integrally with the first support member in a turning direction of the base member. The second wheel is movable integrally with the second support member in the turning direction of the base member. According to turning of the base member by operating the steering operation member, all of the upper arm, the lower arm, the first support member, the second support member, the first wheel, and the second wheel turn around a turning center of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishii, Taro Iwamoto, Takeshi Nakajima, Kazuya Nagasaka